...and Ødegaard. But we can't really afford to rest him now. Saka can be temporarily replaced (Jesus, even Trossard) but not Ødegaard.

Martinez gets a second yellow card during the penalty shoot out but is not sent off…..due to a rule I didn’t know that yellow cards reset themselves before the penalty shootout, so that second yellow isn’t a sending off.

Frankly it’s a stupid rule because it basically allows every gk a free hit at a bit of nonsense in the shootout. The psychological aspect is so important why wouldn’t a go just act like a pillock just once to one player, take his yellow with zero consequences

Well done Unai and AVilla. Not a great team at all but a bit like George at Arsenal, Unai is getting maximum from his players on these nights. It’s not just the players who need experience, the manager needs a couple of game plans and know the moment to change tactics.

The seasons done Rich.

I don’t know any Arsenal fans who bear any ill will towards Emery, despite what the media try to stoke up. I think he’s a tremendous manager but probably one that really excels in that slight underdog position and obviously his time at Arsenal didn’t work out but it was a completely sensible appointment at the time. There was too much nonsense off the pitch for him, he seemingly had no say in transfers and the Kronke team certainly weren’t as active as they are now. Could Emery have got us where we are now if he’d had the same back room and owner engagement as Arteta? Maybe, but there is still something for me that Emery doesn’t play aggressive dominant attacking football enough to be consistently at the top. At Villa his good results will get magnified and the poor ones quickly forgotten - like the hammerings by Newcastle and Spurs, losing to Forest, losing twice to Man U etc. which is the opposite of what you get at a really big club

Funny story but isn't he also confirming that referees cheat?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/962587768577981

RM had City PKs all sussed out.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C55iJDnM ... 9ubg%3D%3D

I've always wondered why more keepers don't just hold their ground as I've seen more than a few PKs go right down the middle or just off the middle.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1130405094752263

I think in a shoot out with players who don't take penalties usually it is a valid tactic, but I'd want to see the stats of how often the kicks are placed there.

One of the interesting factors in penalties is the time the penalty taker takes between the ref blowing his whistle and him kicking the ball. Lots of players shoot very quickly after the whistle, and are shown to be 'ready' and glancing at the ref waiting for him to blow the whistle - all shown as avoidance of the situation tactics.

Someone did analysis of our community shield penalties v City and every single one of our players was waiting up to 5 seconds after the whistle was blown - so they take control of the situation and remain clam, whereas all of City's players were taking less than 2 seconds.

How about this for a team of the season. Not sure there have been any real stand out GK, RB, LB so happy to hear any alternatives
GK: Raya
LB: Udogie
CB: Van Dijk
CB: Gabriel
RB: Walker
CM: Rodri
CM: Rice
AM: Foden
RM: Palmer
LM: Gordon
FW: Watkins

Honorable mentions: Martinez, Saliba, Konsa, Robinson, Douglas Luiz, Bowen, Saka, Salah, Solanke, Haaland, Isak

How about this for a team of the season. Not sure there have been any real stand out GK, RB, LB so happy to hear any alternatives
GK: Raya
LB: Udogie
CB: Van Dijk
CB: Gabriel
RB: Walker
CM: Rodri
CM: Rice
AM: Foden
RM: Palmer
LM: Gordon
FW: Watkins

Honorable mentions: Martinez, Saliba, Konsa, Robinson, Douglas Luiz, Bowen, Saka, Salah, Solanke, Haaland, Isak

Hey Old Man - trust you're still drawing breath?

I don't post much these days since I seem to attract the immediate attention of a mongrel called Tel - you there Tel? Good boy. Good boy. Stayyyyy...

Have you tried speaking to medical professional? I think you might be in need of some help!

There you are. Good boy.

Tosser Tel.

Park Lane, Tottenham. Brave words if they weren't said way north of the Thames.

Hey Old Man - trust you're still drawing breath?

I don't post much these days since I seem to attract the immediate attention of a mongrel called Tel - you there Tel? Good boy. Good boy. Stayyyyy...

Before the moment passes, and notwithstanding your Surrey allegiances, I thought that as a 'Kentish Man', you might want to share with me an appreciation of Derek Underwood. What a bowler. A true one-off. I've never seen an action or a method quite like him. Maybe Chandrasekhar came closest.

Left arm - fast spinner or slow medium pacer? Tricky - and he was that in spades, particularly on the right pitch. Sharp guy as well. Chairman of my Club. Splayed feet paddling in like Gollum. Left arm swinging and dragging slightly, like he was carrying a takeaway.

Bernard would undoubtably agree, bless him.

Jeez… I hope the players have got bigger balls than some of our so called “supporters”.

Have you tried speaking to medical professional? I think you might be in need of some help!

Todays game. A test of mental and physical endurance

Any 3 points would do.

Sad to read Vitesse Arnheim relegated. They were casually my second team in the eredivisie. They were the team of a Dutch friend of mine so I adopted them casually as my 2nd team there.

Roman Abromovich. That virus has infected football. It's a wonder Chelsea got out of that without a scratch.